-1A Walk in the Other Man's… Paws

EPOV

When I entered the living room, the tense atmosphere caught me by surprise. Carlisle and Alice stopped speaking at the first sound of footsteps, and they looked up tentatively when I entered the room. They both diverted their thoughts to mundane topics—the weather, the wallpaper. But it was too late; I had heard snippets of their conversation a couple moments ago.

"You were thinking about Bella," I said. It wasn't a question. "What's going on?"

Carlisle stood, heaving a sigh. "I'm sure everything's fine, Edward. Nothing's going on."

"Alice," I snarled. She looked too nervous, too giddy.

"Edward. A little possessive, aren't you? Now we can't even think Bella's name without getting snarled at?" Alice raised her eyebrows, and I snarled at her again, advancing. "Fine," she continued. "If you really want to know, Bella has disappeared from my visions. It's not a big deal, it just means—""Jacob Black." All three of us hissed his name at the same time. I bounded toward the door before we had even muttered his last name.

"Wait, come back!" Carlisle commanded. I stopped, but only for a moment.

"Edward, she can see Jacob now and again, can't she?" Carlisle reasoned.

"He's angry… he… he doesn't want her to marry me… he's not playing fair. I'm just going to stop by La Push. Bella won't even know I'm there. I'll wait in the woods, and I won't go anywhere near their property. I just want to be near enough to help her if she needs it."

"Alright…" Carlisle said, but I was already out the door.

When I pulled the Volvo over near the Black's property, I listened to Jacob's thoughts. Soon enough, I realized I didn't need to. I could hear loud voices coming from around the trees. I wanted to see if it was only Jacob and Bella, but I knew that stepping on their property would break the treaty. I listened to their argument:

"Jake, leave me alone. I have to go back to Edward. I love Edward. Don't you get it? I tried to make amends, Jake. That's why I came here, but if you get near me again—"

"Bella, you only think you're in love. I can show you love better than a bloodsucker. Have you forgotten what a real kiss is like?"

"JACOB!" Bella screeched, and I could only picture Jacob advancing on Bella, lips puckered. Before I could process my emotions, I had jumped out of the car and was running towards La Push. I had waited too long to give the cur a piece of my mind. I couldn't be the patient hero any longer.

Jacob and Bella came into view; Jacob had her in his arms. I leaped toward them, and I don't know exactly when I crossed the property line, but all of a sudden, there was a flash of light. Pain ripped through me, like my body was splitting apart. The world spun, whizzed, blurred…

Suddenly, everything was just as it had been a moment ago. Except… I was where Jacob had been a second earlier, and I was staring at… me. Huh. Suddenly, I looked down and noticed my skin. It was shades darker. I noticed my clothes. They weren't mine. I noticed my arms. They were wrapped around Bella.

The truth sank in. I had crossed the line of La Push; I had broken the treaty. And now, though I didn't know why, I was in Jacob Black's body, and he was in mine. Bella hadn't noticed a thing. It was only Jacob and me who had seen the lights and the whirling. I let go of Bella and choked back the horror. I could see that Jacob realized what happened, but unlike me, a small smile crossed his face.

Jacob—in my body—stepped forward. "Come on Bella, love. Let's go home."

"Wait!" I yelled, but Jacob had scooped Bella into his arms and was walking towards my car.

Great, I thought. My enemy just kidnapped my fiancé.